ATENOLOL
About
ATENOLOL belongs to a group of heart disease-related medicines known as beta-blockers. It helps in the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension), irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), and chest pain with painful tightness in the chest (angina pectoris). It protects the heart in the early treatment after a heart attack (myocardial infarction). High blood pressure increases the heart's workload, and if it continues for a long time, the heart and blood vessels (arteries) may not function properly. It can damage the arteries of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. However, lowering blood pressure may reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
ATENOLOL contains atenolol, which primarily helps relax our blood vessels by blocking the action of certain natural substances in your body. Thus, ATENOLOL helps lower your raised blood pressure and reduce the risk of having a stroke, a heart attack, other heart problems, or kidney problems in the future.
Your doctor will advise you on how often you take ATENOLOL based on your medical condition. Sometimes, you may experience headaches, cold hands/feet, diarrhoea, feeling sick (nausea), tired, aching muscles, depressed mood, and dizziness. Most of these side effects of ATENOLOL do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist, contact your doctor.
Don't stop taking ATENOLOL without talking to your doctor first. Stopping ATENOLOL gradually may cause heart rhythm and blood pressure changes and cause chest pain or a heart attack. Your doctor will lower your dose slowly over some time to help prevent these symptoms. If you are a pregnant woman or nursing mother, do not consume ATENOLOL without consulting your doctor. Talk to your doctor before taking the ATENOLOL if you have a very slow heartbeat, asthma, diabetes, thyrotoxicosis (thyroid gland disorders), serious heart condition (sick sinus syndrome) or any heart blockage, and severe kidney disease. ATENOLOL is not recommended for children below 12 years. Before taking the ATENOLOL, inform your doctor about your medical history and ongoing therapies to rule out potential adverse effects or interactions.
Uses of ATENOLOL
Medicinal Benefits
ATENOLOL contains atenolol, which primarily helps relax our blood vessels by blocking the action of certain natural substances in your body. Thus, ATENOLOL helps lower your raised blood pressure and reduce the risk of having a stroke, a heart attack, other heart problems, or kidney problems in the future. This medicine needs to be taken regularly to be effective.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of ATENOLOL
- Headache
- Cold hands/feet
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Feeling tired
- Aching and tired muscles
- Depressed mood
- Dizziness
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
ATENOLOL should not be used in patients who have a cardiogenic shock (the heart is unable to pump enough blood), congestive heart failure, bradycardia (a very slow heartbeat), anuria (the kidneys are unable to make urine), or are allergic to this product. Don't stop taking ATENOLOL without first consulting your doctor. Stopping ATENOLOL suddenly may result in changes in heart rhythm and blood pressure, as well as chest pain or a heart attack. To help prevent these side effects, your doctor will gradually reduce your dose over time. ATENOLOL is not recommended in children below 12 years. The use of ATENOLOL could mask diabetes symptoms. So, if you have diabetes, inform your doctor. If you take ATENOLOL with anticoagulants like warfarin, you should check your prothrombin time on a regular basis.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: ATENOLOL is known to interact with certain bronchodilator medications (e.g. aminophylline, dyphylline, oxtriphylline, theophylline), an antiretroviral drug used to treat AIDS/ HIV (e.g. atazanavir, saquinavir), anti-cancer medication (e.g. ceritinib), medicines used to treat high blood pressure (clonidine, diltiazem, Verapamil), antiarrhythmic medication (e.g. disopyramide), a drug used to treat vomiting and nausea following chemotherapy (dolasetron), immunomodulating medicine (e.g. fingolimod), used to treat a certain heart problem (e.g. mavacamten), certain diagnostic agent (methacholine), used to treat the relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (e.g. ponesimod, siponimod), and muscle relaxant medications (e.g. ritodrine, tizanidine).
Drug-Food Interactions: ATENOLOL interacts with grapefruit and rich protein foods. Hence it should not be taken with ATENOLOL. Using ATENOLOL together with multivitamins/minerals may decrease the effects of ATENOLOL. If it is necessary, you should maintain at least 2 hours between the administration of ATENOLOL and multivitamins/minerals.
Drug-Disease Interactions: ATENOLOL interacts with disease conditions, including Haemodialysis (dialysis), Renal dysfunction, bradyarrhythmia (heartbeat is lower than 60 bpm), Atrioventricular (AV) block (partial or complete interruption of impulse transmission), Cardiogenic shock (when the heart fails to pump required blood to the body), Hypotension (low blood pressure), CHF (Cardiac heart failure), Diabetes, Hypersensitivity, Ischemic heart disease/coronary heart disease, PVD (Peripheral vascular disease).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid alcohol consumption while taking ATENOLOL as it may cause dizziness or lightheadedness.
Pregnancy
cautionATENOLOL should not be taken until prescribed. ATENOLOL is a Category D pregnancy drug. Pregnant mothers should exercise caution during pregnancy before taking ATENOLOL as it has been shown to cross the placental barrier and linked with intrauterine growth restriction.
Breast Feeding
cautionCaution should be exercised, and it is advisable to consult a doctor before using it. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing them to you. Risk of neonatal hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) and bradycardia (slow heartbeat or rate).
Driving
cautionDrive only if you are physically stable and mentally focussed. You may experience dizziness after taking this medication; you should not drive or operate any machinery or vehicles.
Liver
cautionATENOLOL to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor. Please consult your doctor.
Kidney
cautionATENOLOL is not recommended for kidney failure patients or those at a severe kidney damage level. Please consult your doctor. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing them to you.
Children
cautionATENOLOL is not recommended for children below 12 years of age. Please consult your doctor for more information.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Keep your weight under control with BMI (Body Mass Index) 19.5-24.9.
- Do regular physical activity or exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, or about 30 minutes most days of the week. Doing this can help you to lower your raised blood pressure by about 5 mm of Hg.
- Opt for a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, veggies, and low-fat dairy products.
- Limiting sodium chloride (table salt) in your daily diet to 2300 mg per day or less than 1500 mg is ideal for most adults.
- Quitting smoking is the best strategy to lower the risk of heart disease.
- Avoid chronic stress as it can raise your blood pressure. Try to enjoy and spend time with your loved ones to cope with stress and practice mindfulness techniques.
- Monitor your blood pressure daily and if there is too much fluctuation, then immediately contact your doctor.
- Include heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids containing food and drinks in your daily diet. You can also use low-fat cooking oil like olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and coconut oil to help lower your elevated blood pressure.
Special Advise
- Patients with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), lung disease (asthma) and diabetes should inform a doctor before taking ATENOLOL. The doctor may suggest an appropriate diagnostic test before prescribing ATENOLOL to you.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hypertension: The blood exerts increased pressure on the walls of blood vessels leading to hypertension. High blood pressure is expressed as systolic/diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats or pumps out blood. Diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries between the heartbeats. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) by a blood pressure monitor called a sphygmomanometer. Some of the symptoms are headache, dizziness, nosebleeds, altered vision, chest pain, weakness, and shortness of breath. However, most of the time, the signs and symptoms of hypertension are none.
Arrhythmia: It is a problem associated with the rate of rhythm at which the heart beats. Generally, in this condition, the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly. It can lead to severe heart damage. A cardiac arrhythmia occurs when there are abnormal electrical signals in the heart. When the heart beats too fast, it is known as tachycardia, and if it is too slow, it is called bradycardia. Treatment of arrhythmia includes drugs, medical procedures, implantable devices and sometimes surgery.
FAQs
ATENOLOL contains atenolol, which primarily helps relax our blood vessels by blocking the action of certain natural substances in your body. Thus, ATENOLOL helps lower your raised blood pressure and reduce the risk of having a stroke, a heart attack, other heart problems, or kidney problems in the future.
Yes, ATENOLOL can be taken at night or any other time. It is better to take it at a fixed time.
ATENOLOL is prescribed for long-term or chronic conditions. It is advised to continue your medicine even after your blood pressure is under control. Stopping the intake of ATENOLOL can increase the chance of having a heart attack, stroke and raised blood pressure. If you have any discomfort, please consult your doctor immediately.
Usually, ATENOLOL is prescribed for a long term treatment ranging from weeks to months for treating heart-related conditions and disorders. However, taking it on your own for years without a doctor's consent can be fatal. Hence, only take it as long as your doctor has prescribed it to you.
ATENOLOL may cause dizziness if you are lying down or sitting gets up slowly to avoid it. If you feel extremely dizzy, please consult your doctor and do as advised.
Patients with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), lung disease (asthma) and diabetes should consult a doctor before taking ATENOLOL. The doctor may suggest an appropriate diagnostic test before prescribing ATENOLOL to you.